Tulane University
1-0
Arkansas-Little Rock
0-1
WBB Opens Season with 69-53 Win vs. Little Rock
Nov 13, 2015 | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS - In a 2015-16 season opening battle between two tournament teams from last year, it was the Tulane women's basketball team that emerged victorious over the visiting Little Rock Trojans, securing the 69-53 win on Friday night inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. Three Green Wave players finished with double-digit points as junior Leslie Vorpahl led the way with 14, followed by 12 points from sophomore Kolby Morgan and 11 points from freshman Taylor Emery.
"I think for our first game, against a team as athletic as Little Rock, we did a nice job," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. "Defensively, in that first 10 minutes, we did a great job. We had some great shots that just didn't fall. We broke it open when we got the fast break on them."
Tulane's defense bought the offense time in the first quarter to find its rhythm, holding the Trojans to just four points in the opening period. Three Vorpahl free-throws at 6:08 were the first points of the game as the San Antonio native went 7-for-7 from the line in the first quarter. In addition, Courtnie Latham and Emery pitched in a combined eight points to give the Wave a 15-4 lead at the first break.
Tulane's offense recorded its best period in the second quarter, pouring in 23 total points, partially thanks to Morgan, who tallied eight of her final 12 points in said period, powering the Wave to a 38-23 halftime lead.
From there, the Green Wave's defense stayed true and guided Tulane to victory, starting with a third quarter in which they held Little Rock to single digit scoring once again, this time at nine points.
With 9:34 left in the fourth quarter, Tulane had built a 20 point lead against Little Rock at 52-32, its largest of the game. The Trojans did cut the lead down to 12 points with 3:32 remaining at 58-46, but Emery put the game on ice, scoring seven of the Wave's next eight points.
In all, Tulane shot 45.8 percent from the field compared to Little Rock's 35.8 percent. Furthermore, the Green Wave recorded 32 points in the paint and went 22-of-31 (71.0 percent) from the free-throw line; thus, 78 percent of the team's scoring came from the post or from the charity stripe.
"It was great to see the team, especially our rookies, come in against that type of competition and pressure," Stockton added. "They knew it was a good team but they didn't get intimidated, especially the young ones going in. We played a lot of people in that first half and I was glad we kept some of the momentum of that half."
Up next, the Olive and Blue will remain at home, welcoming in Jackson State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are $5 for end court and $10 for side court. For more information, fans can call (504) 861-WAVE (9283) or visit the ticket office located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
